Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-29

looking back he saw that NEST Of our men
were pale, vet resolure. The passengers
had that listless and weary air always
seen in the early morning on board
train.
The conductor. whose name we after
ward learned was William A. Fuller, ELI
tered and began to take the tickets He
looked narrowly at Us. for 1t was an IN
common thing for so ulany persons to en-
ter in a body as did at Marietta; besides,
he had been warned very recently TO
watch that no conscripts used his train
for the purpose of escaping, and ordered,
in case Of suspicion, to telegraph for help
at once No doubt we looked soidieriy
enough, but he afterward told me that he
did not suspect Us of being conscripts-
We also scrutinized him carefully, for it
was possible that he might, if his sus-
picions were in the least aroused, en-
deayor to prevent US from taking his
train.
He was quite young for conductor,
being. as we afterward learned, only 20,
though he had been for seven years in
that position He had a frank, genial,
but resolute face. was Of medium size,
and looked active and strong.
We had little leisure for looking at the
grand form OF Kenesaw mountain, which
rose on our left, and around the base of
which the road describes almost half
circle and then turns away before II
reaches Big Shanty. Here was fought
one Of the severest battles Of the war Ue-
tween Sherman and Johnston; but this,
with their prolonged struggle over the
whole line Of this railway, did not come
until two years later. The question of
deepest interest to us, and one which
would be quickly solved, was, How rluch
OF fight Will we have at Big Shanty:
If the train is left guarded during break
fast time we viii have TO overcome the
guards if anybody secs Us going on the
engine and a rush is made TO prevent we
Will have to fight sharply and at close
quarters-the most deadly kind OF fight
ing" Every revolver had been carefully
examined at Marietta before We slept and
every preparation Made, 50 there was
nothing to do but to wait as patiently as
we could.
1t was thrilling moment when the
conductor called out, Big Shanty stwenty
minutes for breakfas and we could see
the white tents Of the rebel troops aud
even the guards slowly pacing their beats.
Big Shanty NOW called kencsawl lad
been selected for the seizure because it
was a breakfast station, and because il
had no telegraph Office When Andrews
had been here on the previous expedition,
few troops were seen, but the number was
now greatly increased 1t l. difficult to
tell just how many were actually here,
for they were constantly coming and
going; but there seems to have been three
or four regiments, numbering not far
camped almost entirely on the west side
of the road, but their camp guard included
the railroad depot. AS soon as the train
stopped, the conductor, engineer, fireman.
and most of the passengers hurried for
breakfast into the long low shed on the
east side of the road which gave the place
its name No guard whatever was left
"a fortunate circumstance for us, but not
at all unusual on southern roads even
when not 50 well guarded by soldiers Us
this train was. Now was our opportu-
nifty! yet for a moment We were com
PEELED to keep our seats and wait the APP
pointed signal by our leader. 1t required
strong effort of will to keep from rush
ing forward. We had no desire for eating
as we saw the passengers leaving their
seats around us and pouring III to break
fast The moments seemed hours; for we
knew that when the signal was given, we
must do our work i'll less than half n min
ute or he slaughtered on the spot; we also
knew that any one Of us who failed to get
on board with the rest would he lost; but
we did not know how long during the
twenty minutes Andrews would wait. Ii
anything could be gained by waiting five
or ten minutes We were sure that he, with
his marvellous GOODNESS, would wait and